I trust most everyone knows the best answer in Sunday school class is Jesus. He is also the answer to who we are to serve as our king. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.
Have you noticed that the majority of discussion about Matthew 6:33 revolves around the things added to us humans. Most people hope in the tangible: things they can see, touch, and keep for themselves. “[B]lessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29b. Belief is hoping in the intangible and something you do not control.
The world today knows nothing about serving a king and seeking someone else’s kingdom. In the name of democracy, to free humans from serving anyone above themselves, people kill each other all of the time. The United States of America was founded on rebellion from a king. Of course when people kill and rebel they believe they are doing so for the right reason: to overcome tyranny.
Left to ourselves we humans do not know how to conquer the tyranny of sin. Jesus gives us the only way. He makes “the way” easy for us: trust Him and serve Him as king. The bottom line is we do not know how to serve a king and we do not know how to look out for the best interests of our King’s kingdom.
One of the great attributes of our God’s character is He helps us with the gift of Jesus and the Holy Spirit despite ourselves. Our King Jesus teaches us to trust in our Heavenly Father who looks out for our best interests. "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17. Our Father knows it is in our best interests to trust Jesus and to add to His kingdom. When we do not know how to serve our King, Jesus continues to give us Himself. “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4:19.
Is King Jesus enough for you?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
MISSING OUT
When you are getting around in the morning, do you feel like you are missing out if you do not say good morning to Jesus and thank God? Do you miss out when you do not read His Word?
My daughter, when she was a baby, would struggle going to sleep. Her struggle was the greatest in her grandparents’ house at night. She did not want to miss anything. I believe this is why she stays up until three in the morning now that she is in college.
Would a warrior feel he is missing out on something if he did not have armor and weapons? “[P]ut on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.” Ephesians 6:13a. What makes us Christians march onward into the battle of the day without looking upwards in the morning? “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” I Thessalonians 5:8.
I pray I long for God’s Word forever. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deutoronomy 6:6-9. I trust the Holy Spirit will encourage me to feel like I am missing something when I do not spend time with my heavenly Father.
My daughter, when she was a baby, would struggle going to sleep. Her struggle was the greatest in her grandparents’ house at night. She did not want to miss anything. I believe this is why she stays up until three in the morning now that she is in college.
Would a warrior feel he is missing out on something if he did not have armor and weapons? “[P]ut on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.” Ephesians 6:13a. What makes us Christians march onward into the battle of the day without looking upwards in the morning? “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” I Thessalonians 5:8.
I pray I long for God’s Word forever. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deutoronomy 6:6-9. I trust the Holy Spirit will encourage me to feel like I am missing something when I do not spend time with my heavenly Father.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
ENTHUSED IN JESUS
My experience with enthusiasm, as played out in my life, is that something new excites me then I eagerly am interested in the new thing. For example, when I first became interested in the precious metals gold and silver as speculation, I studied books, talked to experts and others, read blog entries, attended auctions, looked at websites, searched garage sales and flea markets, traveled to coin shops, and learned how to learn about gold and silver. I got excited.
However the luster wore off. My pursuit of making the right moves at the right time became work. With work there is toil and a choking out of the fun. I question whether I am chasing worthless idols. “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah 2:8.
God uses in His Word an analogy to get readers enthused about chasing Jesus. “[I]f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5. God is calling us to get excited about Him.
The origin of the word enthused literally means in God. The Holy Spirit arouses enthusiasm about Jesus in us. We must respond with dedication to Jesus and with thanksgiving. We then will serve others and witness Jesus for adding to His Kingdom. “[T]hey gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.” II Corinthians 8:5b. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” I Peter 3:15a-b. Enthusiasm in Jesus is real simple: love God, love others, go.
However the luster wore off. My pursuit of making the right moves at the right time became work. With work there is toil and a choking out of the fun. I question whether I am chasing worthless idols. “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah 2:8.
God uses in His Word an analogy to get readers enthused about chasing Jesus. “[I]f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5. God is calling us to get excited about Him.
The origin of the word enthused literally means in God. The Holy Spirit arouses enthusiasm about Jesus in us. We must respond with dedication to Jesus and with thanksgiving. We then will serve others and witness Jesus for adding to His Kingdom. “[T]hey gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.” II Corinthians 8:5b. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” I Peter 3:15a-b. Enthusiasm in Jesus is real simple: love God, love others, go.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
GOD, OTHERS, GO
I want to love Jesus better. I want to stretch towards Him, as He is my King. I want to attend to His Words as I search for silver. “[Y]ou look for it as for silver” Proverbs 2:4a
Jesus wants all to come to Him and know Him. I do not want to get in the way and block another’s gaze towards Jesus.
I confess I draw attention to myself. When I try to get noticed, I sin. While someone observes me I am like a paid servant to pride. I thank you Jesus for forgiving me over 2000 years ago.
Holy Spirit I ask You grow my devotion to the Father through Christ Jesus. Keep me away from opening my mouth to reveal the evil in my heart to others. “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” Ephesians 5:4.
Help me add to Jesus’ kingdom with thanksgiving. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” II Corinthians 2:14. Help me pray for enemies. “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” II Timothy 2:25-26.
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